Film-feeding mechanism for cameras.



E. A. CALDWELL. FILM FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CAMERAS.

APPLICATION FILED APB..21, 1911. 1,034,870. Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

I A a mnu x E. A. CALDWELL. FILM FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CAMERAS.

APPLIGATION FILED APRZI, 1911.

Patented Aug. 6, 1912.

ELMER A.

CALDWELL,

FILM-FEEDING MECHANISM FOR CAMERAS.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

OF STRAT'FORD, TEXAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug- 6, 19 12;

Application filed April 21, 1911. Serial No. 622,613.

To all whom iii-may concern:

Be it known that 1, Emma A. CALDWELL, citizen of the United States, residing at. Stratford, in-the county of Sherman and State of Texas, have invented certain-new and useful improvements in FilnrFeeding Mechanism for Cameras, of which the following is a specification.

It is the object of the present invention. to provide an improved film-feeding mechanism for cameras. the same being so constructed as to automatically feed the film for successive exposures upon pressing an actuating button or the like. Therefore, the invention aims to obviate the tedious winding of the. film after each exposure and the possibility thattoo much of the film may be taken up when manually wound.

One novel feature of the invention resides in arranging the mechanisn i -for con-- trol by the movement of the film so that proper position ng of Successive portions of -lhe film for exposure will be insured. and

- without the necessity of any attention on the part of the operator.

Another feature of the invention resides in the provision of means whereby the film may. be wound upon the winding spool manually, and without in any way affecting the automatic winding mechanism.

"The invention aims further to provide a.

novel means .for indicating the number of exposures. thereby obviating the use of the usual ruby window through which the numbers on the film backing are ordinarily viewed.

For a full understanding of the invention reference is to be had to the following description and accompanying drawing, in which I'- Figure 1 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through the mechanism emhodvingthe present invention, parts being in elevation. Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective view of a portion ofthe mechanism. Fig. 4. is asimilar view illustrating a c h tch for the spool-winding, shaft of the mechanism. Fig], zo ntal sectional view on the li ne 5-5 of Fig. 1. Fig; (i is a similar view on the line 6-43 of Fig. 1. 1

Corresponding and like parts are l'tftll'tt l to in the following d'scription and indi same reference characters.

,the tihnzspool 5. I p v upon which the film ishtohe ii 'oundjiffter.

a A shaft 12 is journale is a hori and bottom of the casing,"near oneetid thereof, is a spool winding shaft 3 having its lower end projecting into"'the jbody 'of the camera and provided with aequ'ared stud 4. designed to fitlin the slotted end "of This spoolfii "isf thebne exposures are made, and it isKof'c m i Q,"t beunderstood that the arranggm fl fthe 7 film containing spool with felhtionfltdth'e! winding spool 5 is the same as in any ordi nary/film camera. Forthi not been deemed necessary to i' film carrying spool. nor any p camera. body except that occupied upper portion of the s OQl 'i. l" winding shaft 3 is provi ed at ts which projects through fl top '0 1e 1 ing, with a fingenkey 6 byn1eansof-whichf it may be manually rotated r'tita ethe" spool 5. The shaft 3 is slldab 'through a pinion 7 which 'i's'fdisposedupon the bottom 2' ofthe casing andlfelda ainst, forward displacement by :ine'ans of th'e fin-" ger S secured to the said bottom'a'i il 'p jecting above the pinion. .Afst'op pin" is secured through theshaft ou the pinion 7,'it being understood that shaft 3 is to be slid through tlie'piniti order to bring its stud 4' into e'ngagen eri't' with the slot in the end hfi spoo is; at the time of disposingthis spo'olfivithiii tli camera body. The pinion 7cariie s (illitc rollers 10 which fare held in positionilb Q I means of springs 11 and, when the'pin ion is rotated in one direction j'they' bin'd'with the shaft- 3 and rotate the said 'shaftivith' the pinion. The arrangementfoftlieclutch rollers is such however,- that the shaft 3i'may; be rotated in the same direction, manually i independently of the pinion.

bottom of the casing. and onttii'sf slliift is? mounted a barrel l3 havinggear-teethP H at its lower end. ibspring '15is' seoufredfat" one end to the inside 'otthe wall he barrel and at its'other I and serves as mean: ffoifl I barrel and the spool-win, o the gear-teeth 14 being in mesh w'ith the pin,"

' ion 7. A plate 15 is secured to the under side of the top 1 of the casing and through this plate the shaft l2also projects. Fixed upon the shaft at a point immediately above the plate 15' is a pinion 16 which is in mesh with a pinion 17 carried by a winding shaft 18. This shaft 18 is provided with a fingerwindiiig of the spring. The shaft 12 andthe spring are located about midway between the ends of the casing and the remainder of the mechanism embodying the invention is located in that end of the casing opposite the end in which the spool-Winding shaft is arranged.

The numeral 21 indicates a pawl which is pivoted between its ends as at 22 to the bottom 2 of the casing and has one end 23 normally engaging with the gear-teeth 14 whereby to hold the barrel 13 against rotation. The pivot-post 22 for the pawl has arranged upon it a spring 24 secured at one. end ereto'and at its other end engaged with the pawl 21 whereby to hold the same normally in engagement with the gearfiaeth of the barrel 13. Mounted pivotally in a bracket 25 upon thesaid bottom 2 of the casing is a detent which at one end is of hook form, as indicated by the numeral 26, and is designed at its said end to engage positively with the end 23 of the pawl to lipid the same out of engagement with the teeth ,14, against the tension of the spring A spring 27 is connected to the detentand to the top 1 of the casing and normally holds the detent in engagement with the awl. A shaft 28 is journaled in the top and bottom of the casing and carries a wheel 29 having a cam portion 30 and a notch 31.. The periphery of the wheel 29 is toothed as indicated at 32. The end of the detent opposite its hooked end 26 is bent as at 33 to cooperate with the cam-face of the wheel 29, and its saidend normally rests in engagement therewith and seats in the notch 31. A shaft 34 is journaled through the bottom 2 of the casing and at its upper end carries a small pinion 35 meshing with the toothed periphery of the-cam-wheel 29. Below the casing there is fixed upon the shaft 34 a friction-wheel 36 which may be of rubber or any other suitable material and across which the film is designed to travel. A leaf-spring 37 is secured within the camera and extends beside the periphery of the wheel 36, it being so mounte however, that'it may be swung upwardly out of such position. A small spring-catch 38 normally holds the spring 3 in the first mentioned position. The up- P edge the periphery of the friction-wheel and the of the film is to be inserted between said leaf-spring 37, the spring'serving as a means for holding the film sufiiciently firmly against the friction-wheel to insure of rotation of the latter as the film moves thereacross. The end of the pawl 21 opposite its end 23 is formed with an upstanding stud 39 and a press-button 40 has an angular stem 41 arranged toengage at its end with the said stud 39. A spring 42 is fitted upon the stem of the press-button and normally holds the said stem in the position shown in the drawings. However, when pressure is applied to the button, the pawl will be swung upon its pivot-post 22, against the tension of the spring 24, and out of-engagement with the teeth of the barrel 13. This I disengagement of the pawl from the barrel will allow the latter to rotate under the action of the spring 15, and this rotation of the barrel will result in like movement of 'the spool-winding shaft and the spool engaged thereby, the film which is connected to this spool being wound thereon by reason of such rotative movement. The movement of the end 23 of the pawl 21 out of engagement with the teeth of the barrel will result in an elevation of the end 26 of the detent and downward. swinging movement of its opposite end, against the tension of the spring 27. The downward movement of the last mentioned end of the detent will cause. the same to disengage with the notch 31' in the cam-face 29,.and this wheel will then be free to rotate. Rotary movement is imparted to the cam-wheel through the medium of the friction-wheel 36 and its shaft, the friction-wheel being in turn rotated by the passage of the film thereacross, as before stated. Immediately upon disengagement of the end 33 of the detent from the notch in the camwheel, the end 26 of the said detent will automatically positively engage with the end 23 of the pawl and the pawl will thus be positively held out of engagement with the teeth of the barrel 13. As the cam-wheel completes its cycle of rotation, the cam por-- tion 30 will ride into engagement with the end 33 of the detent and the depressionfof this end of the detent will result in its opposite end being swung upwardly out of engagement with the pawl 21, thus allowing the pawl to again coiiperate with the barrel to hold the same against rotation. Thus, when the button 10 is depressed, the mechanism will be released for actuation and the film will be wound uponthe spool 5 until properly positioned for a succeeding exposure. The movement of the film serves to actuate the means for stopping the rotation of the actuating drum 13 after a predetermined length of film has been wound v upon the spool.

It has been found preferable to employ, in connection with the mechanism, above described, a device for indicating the number of exposures made upon the film, and this device includes a spur-wheel 44 mounted to rotate upon the under side of the top 1 of the casing and intermittently rotated by means of a finger 45 carried by the shaft 28 at its upper end. A spring 46 is secured to one wall of the casing and cooperates with the spur-wheel to hold the same againstfree movement, and upon its up er face the spur-wheel has numerals 47 in icating the number of ex osures, these numerals being viewed throug a small opening in the top 1 of the casing.

Havingthus described the invention what i is claimed asnew 1s v 1. In film-feeding mechanism for cameras, a spool-winding. shaft, a pinion thereon, a spring, a'gear driven by the spring and meshing with the pinion, a pawl, means normally holding the pawl in engagement with the gear, manually-operable means for disengagin the pawl from the gear, a detentarrange to engage with the pawl to hold the same so disengaged, and means actuated ,bly the movement of the film for disengaging t e detent from the pawl to release the lat 'ter when a predetermined length of film has been'wound u n the spool.

2. In filmeeding mechanism for cameras, a spool-winding shaft, a pinion thereon, a spring, a gear driven by the spring and meshing with the pinion, a pivoted pawl, means normally holding the pawl in engagement with the gear, 'a manually-operable press-button in engagement with the pawl and operable to disengage the same Ifrom't-he gear, a detent arranged to engage with the pawl to hold the same so disengaged, and means actuated by the movement of the film for disengaging the detent from the pawl to release the latter when a predetermined length of film has been wound upon the spool.

3. In film-feeding mechanism for cameras, a spool-winding. shaft, a pinion thereon, a spring, a gear driven by the spring and meshing with the pinion, a pawl, means normally holding the pawl in engagement with the gear, manually-operable means for disengagin the pawl from the gear, a detent arrange to engage with the pawl to hold the same so disengaged, and a cam means actuated by the movement of the film and cooperating with the detent todisengage thesame from the pawl to release the latter when a predetermined length of film has been wound upon the-spool.

4. In a film-feeding mechanism for cameras, a spool-winding shaft, a pinion thereon, a spring, a gear driven by the spring and meshing with the pinion, a pawl, means normally holding the pawl engaged with the gear, manually operable means for disengaging the pawl from the gear, a detent aving a hooked end arranged to engage with the pawl toliold the same .so disengaged, and cam-means cooperating with the detentand actuated by the, movement of the film to disengage the detent from the pawl to release the latter when a predetermined length of film has been wound uponthe spool.

5. In a film-feeding mechanism for cameras, a spool-winding shaft, a pinion thereon, a spring, a gear driven by the spring and meshing with the pinion, a pawl, means normally holding the pawl in engagement with the gear, manually-operablemeans for disengaging the pawl from the gear, a detent pivoted between its ends and having one end formed to engage with the pawl to hold the same so disengaged, and a cam-wheel cooperating with the toothed end of the detent, and means actuated by fthe movement of the film to rotate the pam wheel whereby to disengage the detent from the pawl to release the latter when a predetermined length of film has been wound upon the spool.

6. In a film feeding mechanism for cameras, a spool-winding shaft,'a pinion thereon, a spring, a gear driven by the spring and meshing with the pinion, a pawl, means normally holding the pawl in engagement with the gear, manually-operable meansfor disengaging the pawl from the gear, a detent pivoted between its ends and having one end arranged to engage with the pawl to hold the same so disengaged, a cam-wheel, a spring connected with the detent and normally holding its other end in engagement with the cam-wheel, means actuated by the movement of. the film to rotate the cam- Wheel whereby to disengage the detent from the pawl, thereby to release the latter when a predetermined length of film has been wound upon the spool.

7. In a film-feeding mechanism for cam-' eras, a spool-winding shaft, a pinion thereon, a spring, a gear driven by the spring and meshing with the pinion, a pawl, means normally holding the pawl in engagement with the gear, manually-operable means for disengaging the pawl from the gear, a pivoted detent having one end arranged to engage with the pawl to hold the latter so disengaged, a cam, means actuated by the movement of the film to move the cam, said cam cooperating with the other end of the de tent and arranged when moved,v to rock the detent and bring its first mentioned end out of engagement with the pawl whereby to release the latter when a predetermined length of film has been wound upon the spool.

8. In a film-feeding mechanism f0r cameras, a spool-Winding shaft, a pinion thereon, a spring, a gear driven by the spring and meshing with the pinion, a pawl, means normally holding the pawl in engagement with the gear, manually-operable means for dis engaging the pawl from the gear, a detent arranged to engage with the pawl to hold the latter so disengaged, a cam-wheel 00- operating with the detent to disengage the same from the pawl to release the latter when a predetermined length of tilm has been wound upon the spool, and a tilm'err gaged wheel having geared connection with the cam-wheel for rotating the latter.

9. In a film-feeding mechanism for cameras, a S]')O0l\\'lI)tlll1g shaft, a pinion thereon, a sprin a gear driven by the spring and meshing with the pinion, a pawl, means-normally holding the pawl in engagement with the gear, manually-operable means for dis- ,7 ging the pawl from the gear, a detent arranged to engage with the pawl to hold. the same so disengaged, a cam-wheel cooper ating with the detent and arranged to disengage the same from the pawl to release the latter when a. predetermined length of film has been wound upon the spool. a filnr u" gagcd friction-wheel having geared connection with the cam-wheel, and resilient means for holding the film in contact with the trio lion-wheel.

10. lo a film-feeding mechanism for cameras. a spool-winding shatt. a pinion there-- on, a spring. a gear driven by the spring and meshing with the pinion. a pawl. means nor mally holding the pawl in engagement with the gear. manually-operahle means for disengagiugthe pawl from the gear, a detent arranged to engage with the pawl to hold the same so disengaged, a canrwheel cotiperating with the detent and arranged to diseir gage the same from the pawl to release the latter when a predetermined length of film has be n wound upon the spool. means actlr ated by the movement of the film for rotating the cam wheel. and indicating means actuated by the camwvheel.

ll. In a filn'i-t'eeding mechanism for cam era a spool-winding shaft. a pinion there on. a spring. a gear driven by the spring and meshing with the pinion. a pa wl, means normally holding the pa'wljin engagement with the gear. manually operable mains for disging the pawl trout the gear. a d tent .u, d to engage with the pawl to hold the same so disel'igage l, a cam-wl'ieel formed with a notch and cooperating with the de tent, for moving the latter out of engagement with. the pawl to release the. same when a prodetcrmined length of film has been wcund upon the spool, the detent having a p rtion norz-nally fitting in the notch and therel r normally holdingthe ctunwheel against rotaticn. and means actuated by the movement of the film for rotating said camwheel.

1:2. In a film-feeding mechanism for cameras, a spool-winding shaft, a pinion there on, a spring, a gear driven by the spring and meshing with the pinion, a pawl, means normally holding the pawl in engagement with the gear, manually-operable means for moving the pawl out of such engagement. means arranged to automatically engage with the pawl and hold the same when so moved out, of engagement with the gear, when the manuallyoperahle releasing means is actuated. and means controlled by the movement of the film for rendering the last mentioned means inoperative when a predetermined length of film has been wound upon the spool.

'13. In a tiliuteeding mechanism for cameras. a spool-winding shaft, a pinion thereon, a spring, a gear driven by the spring and meshing with the pinion, a pawl. means normally holding the pawl in engagement with the gear. manually-operable means for disengaging the pawl from the gear, a detent arranged to automatically engage with the pawl to hold the same so disengaged upon actuation of the manually-operable means, and means eoiiperatingwith the detentand actuated by the movement of the film to relcase the deteut from the pawl when a predetermined lcngth of film has been wound upon the spool.

let. in lilm feeding mechanism tor cameras, a spool winding shaft, a pinion there,"- on. a spring. a gear driven by the spring and meshing with the pinion. a pawl, means normally holding the pawl in engagement with the gear, manually operable means for disengaging the pawl from the gear. a detent arranged to engage with the pawl and hold the same so disengaged, and means for dis engaging the detent from the pawl to release the latter when a predetermined length of film has been wound upon the spool.

15. lo film Feeding mechanism for cameras. a spool winding shaft. a spring motor for rotating said shaft, the said motor including a driving gear. a pawl, means normally holding the pawl in engagement with the vsaid gear, whereby to prevent rotation thereof, manuallvoperable means l'or disengaging the pawl from the gear, a detent arranged to engage with the pawl to hold the same so disengaged. and means actuated by the movement of the film for disengaging the detent from the pawl to release the latlot when a predetermined length of film has i been wound upon the spool.

in testimony whereof, I attix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ELM E R A. CAIJDVVELL.

\Vitnesses:

Curran CoLToN, P. R. SNYDER.

to. s] 

